A familiar scene

By the session leader:

We arrived at the watercress beds today fully waterproofed, under grey skies.  But then.  Within 3 minutes of starting work, the sun blasted through the clouds, jackets and jumpers were shed, and there were calls for sunglasses.

This dashing pair of wellies sparkled in the sun with its inset cats’ eyes.

Today’s task was an old favourite: making a 2-metre-wide channel through the water cress:

Cut stuff was floated/dragged downstream …

and forked up on to the bank ...

where a wheelbarrower waited in eager anticipation:

After tea, our task was to attack and seriously reduce a clump of reeds, slashing at its feet and hauling its roots out. 

“This was what turned a great session into a really great session.”

Our last 15 minutes involved nearly everyone, clearing up the roots and rhizomes, forking and barrowing the heavy soggy rooty mats up to the compost. 

When we had finally finished clearing up after ourselves, counted all the tools back, and turned for home, this was the now tranquil scene – with smoothly flowing stream – we were leaving behind: